Spring actuating and control mechanism



Aug. 9, 1932. c. c. TOMKINSON SPRING ACTUATING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1950 2- SheetS Sheet l a M v- 7 HT 53 r a J 9 Z Y 7 5 a 7 z 2 Z 2 i 3 Z i INVENTOR' (Jar/es C 75m/r/nsan M L H m A l'TO RNEY Aug. 9, 1932. c. c. TOMKINSON SPRING ACTUATING AND CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1950 INVENTOR (fiqr/fJC 7201477800 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 9, 1932 CHARLES c. TOMKINSON, or rnarnrrnnn, new JERSEY, AssIeNon TO J. EDWARD oe- DEN COMPANY, INC., on nesr-onanen, NEW En-snY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY SPRING AQTUATING AND. CONTROL .IKEECHANISM Application filed. April .9,

This invention relates to spring actuating and control mechanisms.

More particularly stated, the invention re lates to spring actuating mechanism adapted to move or actuate one of two relatively movable members with respect to the other member. The mechanisminay,for instance, be used to operate a door closure, but it should be understood that it is not limited to such use. In the ordinary spring actuating or operating mechanism for doors, the spring is tensioned as the door is opened and is at its greatest tension when the door is wide open. As the door is closed bythe spring, the tension gradually decreases and is least when when the door is fully closed and when a strong tension should bea-vailable to hold the door closed. No means has heretofore been designed to vary the tension of the spring actuating means as desired, so as to provide the greatesttension when it is mostneeded and to increase or decrease the tension in accordance with the requirements. r

This invention has for its salient object to provide spring operating or actuating mechanism-so constructed and arranged that the power exerted by the spring will be available to the desired extent at anyrperiod or point in the operation of the spring.

Another object of the invention is toprovide spring operating or actuating mechanism so designed that the tension of the spring or power furnished thereby can be main-. tained uniform throughout the action of the spring or can be increased or decreased as do sired during the operation thereof.

. Further objects of the invention willap pear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which 'Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, showing spring actuating or operating means constructed in accordance with the invention and connected to operate a door, the door and jamb being sectioned; p

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partlyin section,

showing a slightly different form of connec- 1930. serial No. 442,721.

' angles to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 5; i I Fig. 7 is an elevational View of another form of bracket adapted to form a pivotal mopnting for the spring and to coact therewit 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan View at right angles to Fig.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the cam portions which coact between the spring and bracket as formed on the spring instead of on the bracket, as in the preceding forms of the invention; 7

Fig. 10 is a plan view, partly in section, and taken at right angles to Fig." 9; Fig. 11 is an elevational View of the bracket shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail el'evation'al view showing the connection between the spring shown in O1F igs. 9 and 10 and the pivoted member or oor:

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 9 butshowing another embodiment of the invention;

and i Fig. 14 is a plan view taken at right angles toFig.13. i i

v varying the amount of tension on the spring.

Further details of the invention will appear from the vfollowing description.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring mechanism has been shown in connection with a door jamb 10 and a door 11 pivoted to the jamb at 12.

The operating mechanism comprises a bracket 15 which is fixedly secured to the j amb and has pivot bosses 16 and 17 which receive laterally extending lugs 18 and 19 formed on the ends of the U-shaped spring having legs 20 and 21 and a connecting portion 22. A

In order to vary the tension of the spring or the tension tending to spread the legs 20 and 21 of the spring, a spring connects the legs 20 and 21 and is adjustable thereon.

The operation of the spring is controlled by oppositely facing cam surfaces or edges and 36 which are formed on the bracket 15. The cam edges or portions and 36 are formed an an arcuate surface 37 formed on a radius having as its center the axis of the piv- 0t bosses 16 and 17. The surface 37 is cut away at one end of each of the cam portions 35 and 36 toform notches and 41, into which the legs 20 and 21 pass when the door has been swung on its pivot to a sufficient ex tent to cause the spring legs to engage the notches. The door will thus. be held in open position until'it is manually released.

From the above description it will be evident that the tension of the spring tends to force the legs 20 and 21 laterally and that these legs in conjunction with the cam portions 35 and 36 will cause the door tobe swung to. closed position when thelegs are released from the notches 40 and 41. The notches are disposed beyond the normal opening movement of the door so that under ordinary con ditions when the door is opened it will be automatically. closed by the spring actuating mechanism. The cam edges or portions 35 and 36 may be designed in any desired mannerto. coact with the spring and to cause the required amount of spring power or tension to. be furnished as desired. V I

3 shows a slightly different connection between the end 22 of the spring and the door. In-this form of the invent-ion aroller a5 is mounted on the portion 22 of the spring and is disposed in-a keeper 16 carried by the door.

4 In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the cam edges -and 51 are straight in plan View and are cut on the curved or arcute surface 53. A square notch 54 is formed atthe ends of the edges 50 and 51 and is adapted tooperate inthe same man? net as the notches 40 and 11. shown in Fig. 2; In this form of the invention, the ends of the ,to 7 inclusive.

spring are pivoted in openings in the bracket disposed eccentric to the curvature of the cam surface 53. This eccentricity causes the portion of the spring between the cam edges 50 and 51 to vary in length as the spring swings on its pivot axis, thus causing an increasing pressure effect in one direction of movement of the spring and the reverse in the other direction of movement.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the legs 55 and 56 of the spring are so tensioned that they tend to move toward each other rather than away from each other as in the preceding forms of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention the ends 57 and 58 of the legs are pivoted in lugs 59 formed on the bracket 60 and the cam 61 is V-shaped in plan, as shown in Fig. 7.

The ends 62 of the cam portion 61 are straight and these straight lines or vendsopcrate in the same manner as the notch 54 and hold the spring in a position to maintain the door open. The edges 63of the cam and the cam surface are arcuate in elevation, as shown in Fig. 8, and the pivot lugs 59' are disposed eccentric with reference to the curvature of the cam surface 61.

The spring actuating mechanism may have the cam portions formed on the spring instead of on the bracket as shown in Figs. 1

One form of such construction is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12.

In this embodiment of the invention the bracket. or plate 65takes the form ofa U- shaped keeper 66.

The spring comprises a pair of legs 67 and 68 having one end portion bent around to form parallel members 69 and 70, the ends of which areconnected by a U-shaped portion 71. The legs72 and 73of, the U-shaped portion are positioned beneath ends 74 and 75 of a T-shaped lug 76 carried by a plate 77 which is secured to the door or other element to be moved. p

The otherends of the legs 67 and 68 of the spring are formed with I cam convoluti'ons 75 and 76, which are pivoted on the U- shaped keeper 66.. Thelegs 67'and 68 nor mally tend to spring toward each other, the tension being regulated by the spring- 30 which engages the legs. When the door is swung to open position, the cam convolutions 75 and 76." in engagement with the legs 80 ,of the keeper force the legs of the spring apart and when the door is released the tendency of the legs to spring toward each other or the fcrceexerted by the legs in conjunction with the cam convolutions and the keep er swing the door to closed position. v

In Figs. 13 and 14: both, the spring and: the bracket on which the spring is mounted are provided with coacting cam portions. The

endsofthe legs are formed intocam convoand the tendency of these legs to take their normal position or to move toward each otherwill cause the door to be closed.

From the foregoing description it will be 7 seen that various embodiments of the invention have been developed and that in certain embodiments the cams are formed on a fixed bracket, in another embodiment the cams are formed on a spring, and in still another embodiment coacting cams are formed on both the spring and the bracket. In all of the forms of the invention the spring and cams are so relatively constructed and arranged as to cause relative movement between the two coacting elements which together form the spring actuating or operating mechanism. The cam surfaces may be so arranged in conjunction with the spring as to provide the required amount of spring tension at the desired points or periods in the operation of the mechanism.

The regulating or controlling action of the cam on the spring is determined by the shape or form of the cam. For instance, the cam edges 35 and 36 in Fig. 2 will operate in conjunction with the legs of the spring to permit a rapid initial closing, a subsequent retardecl closing movement, and finally an increased or rapid movement to closed position. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the eccentricity of the spring pivot with reference to the curvature of the cams produces a varying pressure eifect of the cams on the spring as above described.

The frictional resistance between the cam and the spring and the shape or formation of the cam edges which coact with the spring can be so designed as to suit the requirements of the service rendered by the spring actuating mechanism.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is: i

1. Spring actuating mechanism comprising a pair of coacting elements, one ofsaid elements being resilient, cam means coacting between said elements for swinging one of said elements relative to the other, and adjustable means engaging and coacting with the resilient element for adjusting the'tension of said resilient element.

2. Spring actuating mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted spring member havinglegs biased to move relative'to eachother,

cam means located eccentrically with respect tothe pivotal axis of the spring and coacting with said'legs to control the movement thereof, and relatively movable members connected respectively to said'spring member and said cam means. 7

3'. Spring actuating mechanism comprising a fixed bracket, a spring pivotally associatedtherewith, a bracket adapted for connection with a movable member and having a connection with said spring, and cam means coacting betweensaid spring and said fixed bracket, said cam means being constructed and arranged to cause relative movement between said spring and said fixed bracket, said cam means being disposed eccentrically with respect to the pivotal connection between the spring and the fixed bracket.

4. Spring actuating mechanism comprising a fixed bracket, a spring pivotally associated therewith and having legs biased to move relative to each other, a bracket adapted for connection with a movable member and having a lost motion connection with said spring, and cam means coacting between said spring legs and said fixed bracket, said cam means engaging said legs at points spaced materially from the pivotal connections between the spring and fixed bracket and being constructed and arranged to cause relative movement between said spring and said fixed bracket.

5. Spring actuating mechanism comprising. a fixed bracket, a spring pivotally associated therewith and having legs biased to move relative to each other, a bracket adapted for connection with a movable member and having a connection with said spring, and cam means coacting between said spring and said fixed bracket, said cam means engaging said spring at points spaced from the pivotal connection between the spring and fixed bracket and being constructed and arranged to regulate the relative movement of the spring legs.

6. Spring actuating mechanism comprising a fixed bracket, a spring pivotally associated therewith, a bracket adapted for connection with a movable member and having a connection with said spring, cam means coacting between said spring and said fixed bracket, said cam means being constructed and arranged to regulate the relative movement of the spring legs, and adjustable means for regulating the tension of said spring.

7. Spring actuating mechanism comprising a fixed bracket having oppositely facing cams, and a spring pivotally associated with said bracket and having legs engaging said cams and biased to move relative to each other, said cams being located eccentrically relative to the pivotal connection spring to the bracket.

.Of the I 13 8. Spring actuating mechanism bompris ing a pivotally mounted spring having legs biased to move away from eachother, and cam means engaging said legs at variable points as said spring swings 0nits'pivot.

9. Spring actuating mechanism compris- CHARLES C. TOMKINSON; 

